Whirlpool Corporation
Low cost solid state RF generation system for electromagnetic cooking

Abstract:

A solid state radio frequency generation system is provided for an electromagnetic cooking device having an enclosed cavity. The radio frequency generation system includes: an RF feed for introducing electromagnetic radiation into the cavity to heat a food load; a high-power RF amplifier coupled to the RF feed, the amplifier comprising at least one amplifying stage configured to output a signal that is amplified in power with respect to an input RF signal; a small signal generator for supplying the input RF signal to the amplifier; and a switching power supply unit including a single DC-DC converter that converts AC mains power to low voltage DC for supply to the amplifier, and a controller configured to adapt an input current from the AC mains power to form a predefined periodic waveform with the same frequency as the AC mains power for supply to the small signal generator.